Changes in the Body When You Quit Smoking

We know that the harmful substances in cigarettes invite a host of chronic diseases, including cancer. I will try to answer the question many of my patients ask: "What happens to our bodies after we quit smoking?"

• Within the first hour without a cigarette, heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and blood circulation in the body begins to improve, reducing the risk of a heart attack.
• Within 12 hours of not smoking, carbon monoxide is eliminated from the body, and the oxygen level in the blood increases.
• After 2 days without smoking, your sense of taste and smell start to improve. Smoking damages the nerves responsible for taste and smell, so you may not fully enjoy your food, which can lead to reduced food intake.
• By the end of the first week without smoking, most of the nicotine has been expelled from the body, leading to possible symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, but these symptoms will gradually diminish over time.
• Within 1-3 months of not smoking, lung function begins to improve. Complaints of shortness of breath and coughing decrease. The lungs' ability to clear mucus increases. As lung function improves, endurance for physical activities increases, and you will find it easier to walk and run.
• After 9 months without smoking, lung function continues to improve. The tiny hair-like structures in the airways, called cilia, begin to heal, which helps cleanse the lungs and reduce the risk of infection.
• At 1 year without smoking, the risk of coronary heart disease is reduced by 50% compared to that of a smoker.
• After 5 years without smoking, the blood vessels, which were narrowed due to nicotine and other substances, widen. This reduces the risk of stroke and blood clots. Additionally, the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and bladder decreases.
• At 10 years without smoking, the risk of lung cancer is reduced by 50% compared to a smoker. The risks of other cancers related to smoking, such as pancreatic, laryngeal, and cervical cancers, also decrease significantly.
• After 15 years without smoking, the risk of coronary artery disease is equal to that of someone who has never smoked.

While your body begins to heal immediately after quitting smoking, some of the damage caused by smoking may be irreversible. Additionally, the speed and extent of recovery can vary from person to person and depend on factors such as how long and how much you smoked and individual genetic factors.